Wind Ambitions Welcomed by the Maritime Cluster
– The Government’s ambition is very welcomed by the maritime cluster, as it quantifies a firm objective of 30 GW by 2040. It confirms that energy production in our local waters will still be a business in prosperity.
Above photo: CEO of GCE Blue Maritime Cluster, Daniel Garden.
The quote above was CEO of GCE Blue Maritime Cluster, Daniel Garden’s, first reaction to the plans presented on offshore wind by the Norwegian Government.
The Government calls their own plans a “powerful investment in offshore wind”. The 11th of May the Government presented it’s large-scale investment in offshore wind. The ambition is to produce as much new power from offshore wind as Norway is producing in total hydropower today. The investment will contribute to power for people and companies across the country.
In our industry’s DNA.
Daniel Garden comments that adapting to the needs from society is something the maritime cluster has always done.
– The maritime cluster has for decades developed, built and operated complex vessels for advanced offshore operations – it is in our industry’s DNA. The GCE Blue Maritime cluster has through our strategy New BLUE Deal clear goals on using our experience on bringing the latest world-class solutions needed for the maritime green transition.
He firmly believes that GCE Blue Maritime Cluster will have a role in the green transmission:
– Renewable energy production at sea will need vessels to accommodate the green ambitions. Together, our 200 maritime companies, research institutes, banks, entrepreneurs and authorities will be in a great position to deliver the low- and zero emission ships of the future. By launching this venture, the government is actually boosting their own ambitions also for the maritime industry, already mentioned in “Maritim21” and in the export project “All Norway Exports”.
Sees success coming
– From day one in Government, we have worked to develop Norway as an offshore wind nation. With favourable sea areas, workers with world-leading technology expertise and good cooperation between the state and business, we all have the prerequisites for success, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in his press brief 11th of May.
Four months after the government took over, the framework for the allocation of the first large areas for offshore wind was launched - Utsira North and Southern North Sea II. At the same time, they started to map possible new areas along the coast that can be prepared for offshore wind.
The ambition is that by 2040 we will allocate areas for 30,000 MW offshore wind production in Norway.
According to the Government this is a sum that corresponds to almost as much power as Norway producing today from hydropower alone. With this ambition, we go from the two offshore wind turbines that are in operation today to about 1500 offshore wind turbines.
– The construction will take place over the next 20 years, says Gahr Støre.
The Prime Minister refers to the initiative as a milestone in Norwegian industrial and energy history.
- This is a green industrial boost in Norway and can provide abundant amounts of renewable energy in the future. The goal of the development is to give people and companies large amounts of reasonable power. If we are to achieve that, we must invest now.
Mafoss also positive
The same evening, 11th of May, our colleague and partner in the maritime organization Mafoss, was interviewed on TV by NRK Møre og Romsdal.
Jan Thormodsæter, CEO of Mafoss, commented that the Governments investment in offshore wind was something to cheer for:
– This is something we have worked for. We launched the New Blue Deal, a strategy that invests in becoming a zero emission cluster. What was announced from the Government today will be an important part of this.
